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Denmark offers bilateral loan to Ireland

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said Tuesday Denmark was preparing a bilateral loan to Ireland, which has requested a European Union and International Monetary Fund bailout.

"We are counting on the Danish side to give a bilateral loan to Ireland in addition our participation to the EU/IMF bailout," Rasmussen told reporters in Copenhagen.

He did not specify the amount of the loan.

Britain and Sweden, who like Denmark are not part of the single currency eurozone but are members of the European Union, have already said they would lend to Ireland.

"The government discussed the loans with many parties" in parliament Tuesday, Rasmussen said, saying the idea had the support of parliament.

"We are a small, open economy and it is in our interest that there is economic and financial stability in Europe, he said.

Ireland applied for help on Sunday from the European Union and International Monetary Fund to help it cope with a gaping budget deficit and a deeply troubled banking system.

While the amount of the package has yet to be revealed, European diplomats have said it could come to around 90 billion euros (120 billion dollars).